What is a Diploma?

The Diploma is an exciting new qualification set to become one of the three main education options – alongside GCSEs/A levels and Apprenticeships. It will provide a recognised and well–respected route to further and higher education or direct to employment. As today's job market demands enhanced flexibility, the Diploma courses will give a strong grounding in specific subject areas, while ensuring young people have the wider skills and knowledge to prepare them for work in any field and keep their options open. Diplomas are available at three levels:

  • Foundation – equivalent to 5 GCSEs grades D–G
  • Higher – equivalent to 7 GCSEs grades A*–C
  • Advanced – equivalent to 3.5 A levels

By 2013 they will be available in 17 subjects, each being split into three sections which are:

  • Principal Learning
  • Generic Learning (including Functional Skills and a Project)
  • Additional Specialist Learning

Diplomas are graded in a similar way to GCSE or A level grades:

  • Foundation: A*, A, B, or ungraded (u)
  • Higher: A*, A, B, C or ungraded (u)
  • Advanced: A*, A, B, C, D or ungraded (u)

To achieve a Diploma, you will also need to pass the three Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT, as well as the subjects you choose for your Additional Specialist Learning.

So what does that mean? Click on the Diploma Toolkit to learn more.

 

Who
What
When
Where
FAQs
Diploma Toolkit  
Principal Learning Generic Learning Project Additional Specialist Learning
 
  • Principal Learning

    • This is the main work and employer related part of the Diploma, which gives each Diploma its name and sets a context for other learning. Young people learn all about the issues that affect their chosen subject today, how it works and the key skills involved. They also have the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in work based environments or simulated work contexts with real life problem solving and team working.

  • Generic Learning

    • This includes functional skills in English, Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology at the same level as the Diploma course being followed.

    Personal learning and thinking skills such as team work, problem solving, and reflective self management are also part of the generic learning in the Diploma.

    Young people have to undertake a minimum of 10 days work experience related to their Diploma studies.

  • Project

    • Young people will work on a project to show that they can work independently, develop their research skills, and apply what they have learnt. The project is part of each Diploma at every level. It provides the opportunity for young people to work in depth on an area of their Diploma studies which particularly interests them.

  • Additional Specialist Learning

    • Extra qualifications form part of the Diploma, and young people can choose from Additional or Specialist learning. Additional learning can be based around the young person’s personal interests and career goals, or they could choose a qualification that enables them to explore another related sector. They might study Spanish with Travel and Tourism, for example, or Psychology with Society Health and Development.

    Specialist learning extends the main Diploma study and helps explore the Diploma subject in more detail, for example, Hygiene qualifications in Hospitality, Mathematics in Engineering.

    Young people will be encouraged to choose options which support their long term career aims.

  • How Much Time?

    • At Foundation and Higher Level Diplomas young people will spend 2 days focusing on their Diploma specialism and three days working on the core curriculum and additional qualifications eg. GCSEs and BTECs

    At Advanced Level Diploma all of a young person’s learning will be in the context of their chosen Diploma.